New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-05

no clear indication that the organization makes
any effort to raise the quality OF labor or the
character of employees tho basis OF its endeavors
to improve their condition and to secure higher
wages, though passages Of Grand Master Powderlys
addresses point in that direction. Repeatedly II 10
said that the knights dsconntensnee STRIKES ana
that 1t is one object Of the organization to prevent
strikes but there 10 little light thrown on the fact
that the extension of the Orter has almost every
where led to an epidemic Of strikes not all OF
which have been justified As 10 the political
relations of the order Mr. POwderly said In letter
published in 1888: "The moment we proclaim TO
The world that order is a political party. that
moment the lines are drawn. and we receive no
more accession, to ranks from the other exist
ing parties. with the exception of here aud there
member who becomes a convert through conviction
that We are right We have political parties
enough" Bat he scarcely anticipated. it is prob
able the use which within three years wonld be
made of the organization IN some localities
| 1t was hoped when this volume was opened that
! it would present in clear light what the organized
! wOrkingmen of this country seek to attain
! Thoughtful men everywhere realize that the con-
dtiOn If tie working people is not what it onght
to be- and that great reforms ought to he elected
! If tho wOrkingmrn shOud present through their
organizations such definite announcements OF
reasonable aims rs to command the approval OF
! thoughtful who heartily sympathzs with
them, IL Is not too much to say that the hare an-
nouncement would go far to accomplish the desired
result.
1t is with real regret that we find no such state
ment of aims in this volume. There is profusion
of reasoning in behalf of shorter hour, of work. and
it is gravely stated fact that 100000 persons
are now out of employ ment, ia occupations which
engage only ZOO. O00 that a reduction OF hours
ON ten to eight II is reasoned, would make room
for less than the number now unemployed. Few
well-luforned MEN need to be told that there are
not 100000 workers unemployed or that an
addi,ioua. fifth could not be set at work without
the building IF more factories and machinery. Ibe
workers believe that 100 men would somehow be
employed where there are now 100. and that they
would receive in wages 1920 where those now en-
| ployed receive 500. but thcy do not see that the
increase of things produced by labor would be
smaller and in some industries there would DO no
increase. The eight hours work by 100 men
would not produce more than the ton hours Work
by 100 men, in most industries; in others but little
uOro. and in scarcely any, IL Is probable enough 10
warrant an advance in waves from 100 to 10. Inc
net result would be that the workers would get less
things produced for their wages, that is for their
labor But they wonld have more time for i"-
pr0vement and education. aud that would be we'll
| for those who now get more than enough of the
|
enough or not enough. it would not be so well.
Hence II Is that workers arc not at ali agreed. as
EMPLOYERS are not regarding the wisdom of the
| eight-hour change in all tho departments of
industry.
Again it Is said that egislato is needed because
there can DO no freedom of contract At present.
Thus il Is argued (pages 40 and 4S0 that the euly
| approach to freedom of contract is where power
ful organization has such monopoly OF labor that
| the employer can be driven into bankruptcy II no
refuses any demand. IL this really Freedom Conld
there DO more remarkable illustration Of perverse
| one-sidedness than such reasoniugr Child labor
| md prison labor are by almost all organizations
condemned. But there 10 no intelligent consider
| alton IN THE work OF the question how convicts
shall be- employed supported or what shall be
| done for children whose parents are not ablo tn
| provide for their education during the years in
which labor Is 81 ohbi cd. Accumulation Of wealth
| IL by almost all the writers considered q wrong;
| one says: ave do not make war on the Wander
| bits. but the system which produces Wander
bilta" ls 1t not possible for workers to understand
| that It would be q most unhappy day for labor
| when tho accumulation Of large wealth should DO
| no longer possible to any man. however great his
| power 10 serve s0cietyf Equalization OF laws
affecting labor aud capita. is generally adv located.
but no one attempts define in what respect exist
/
favored and by others opposed. Strikes are by ali
| deprecated IN terms, but regarded IS emnenty
praiseworthv II might be inferred. in nearly every
| instance. The boycott is by some deienhed, anu
| the attempt TO prevent its use 10 held crime
| Hvaiust labor, but tho same writer IN the same
breath. with holy wrath, deuounces tho employers
who blacklist any workiugmen. II the apon Is
an honest one for either rarity 1t is for both
Even more disheartening than tho inability OF
workers t. agree on practical measures regarding
labor which they may te expected TO bsst under
stand, is the singular tendency to agree on the
| wronv side of monetary and other measures which
tLey do not understand. The notion that more
monev and cheaper mOuey would somehow benefit
the laborer 10 Que which the knights have appdr-
emily adopted. ami which no leader seems mauiul-
ly to combat Government posse ,siOn of t~eLraphs.
telephones aud railroads is advocated with all the
zeal CT ignorance, In the face OF experience In
other lands which coaches that the people get less
3 rvce for their money from Government than here
from Indi vldual enterprise The chapters on indus
trial education and arbitration are excellent III
tone and full of valuable information. Mr. Georges
chApter on land Ia chiefly interesting in that II
asserts tA utter blpssn~ss of all other reforms
OF changes 90 long as Individual property In land
remains. Mr.. Powderlys contribution 10 not a,
clear OF strong As somo of HE addresses to the
order; addresses which. IL may be observed. tn,
order has always treated with the respect they
. merit
Rightly considered. the problem Of to-day II
the one question this book does answer Why
do not the workingmen of this country get wha
they wanti They cast three quarters of tho vote
> in each political party. They can make ant
un,nake parties and Governments. Yet they hav
not what they want. and this volume makes TIN
t reason plain. But small part of them, not at an
tna N M
j thing az workingmen. Most of them are conten
I 10 advocate as citizens that policy which thel
+ believe will most benefit oil citizons. But thos
o who ask anything cannot agree sbOnt what the!